Overcome Australia’s labour shortage

It’s no secret that there is a shortage of good workers in Australia right now. Unemployment is hitting near record lows, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics recording a drop to 3.5% in June.

While high employment is good for the nation for many reasons, it means finding skilled and productive staff can be difficult. 

So what do you do to ensure that your workplace is both a magnet for high-quality workers and a haven for your current people?

Let’s start with attracting employees.

Beat labour shortages in Australia

You want potential employees to see your company as a desirable workplace so there are plenty of responses to your job advertisements. 

Here are some ways you can do that:

Marketing

Many businesses now apply a marketing strategy to attract talent. 

An easy place to start is with a careers page, which will highlight the many reasons to work for your organisation and give people an easy way to send through their details. 

Your careers page can have videos promoting your workplace and even blog posts about what it’s like to work there. Don’t be afraid to add some personality so your company stands out.

List the benefits people receive when working with you such as rostered days off, subsidised healthcare or regular team gatherings. 

Pay competitive salaries

At the end of the day, money talks. If you can offer above award wages (award wages are the minimum standard for many professions, particularly trade-based roles), you will be able to attract more applicants and have more flexibility around who you choose. 

Offer perks

Other perks in addition to a competitive salary will put your business ahead of the competition.

– Working from Home Allowance: Over the past few years it has become more commonplace for some sectors in the workforce to work remotely from home.  You may consider paying you workers a Working from Home Allowance to cover costs such as electricity and internet cost.

– Food: There’s nothing better than a free lunch. Even if it’s only once a month, a free lunch can be an excellent motivator and a way to develop camaraderie across your team

– Health insurance: In the USA, many companies include health insurance as part of their package but it is not the same in Australia. However, offering a monthly health insurance rebate of $100-$200 can be an appealing perk

– RDOs: Some businesses and organisations in Australia offer their workers a nine day fortnight — they work slightly longer hours or take a shorter lunch break in return for every second Friday or Monday off work. 

– Flexible hours: Staggered start times can make a big difference to people’s schedules and stress levels. It’s easy to set a window for start times, e.g. between 7:30 am and 10 am, so long as people work their standard 7.5-8 hours per day. 

Retention

Of course, to reduce the need to hire, you need a strategy to hold onto your existing team. What’s most important is creating a place people enjoy showing up to, whether virtually or in person. 

– Workplace culture

Culture exists at every workplace and can be tricky to define but when you get it right you have fast-moving teams who get more done with less effort. 

One way to guide culture is to have clear values and to share them as part of the hiring and onboarding process. When challenging behaviours arise, you can refer people back to the company values and have constructive conversations. 

People work better together when they have a sense of kinship and belonging. Hosting regular catch ups and events is a great way to foster a stronger team. If you have people working remotely, consider some online games and activities. 

– Be free with your feedback

Staff work better when they know where they stand. Frequent, constructive feedback can help your employees improve while also letting them know they are noticed and valued. Scheduling regular catch ups also allows them to raise any concerns, frustrations or issues. 

– Build your social and environmental conscience

Studies have found employees and in particular the younger generation will hesitate to accept a job if their employee doesn’t have a strong Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy, and 83% would be more loyal to a company that helps them contribute to social and environmental issues. 

CSR means actively contributing to the community and taking steps to minimise waste and build a more sustainable future. Some studies have even found the youngest workers prioritise purpose over salary. Focusing on improving your business in this area can help to attract ‘bright young things’ and build their loyalty. 

Want more information about how to quickly fill staff vacancies in Australia? Talk to APEO.